Resource World Magazine

58 www.resourceworld.com O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7 MINING Midland and Altius make northern Québec zinc discovery MIDLAND EXPLORATION INC. [MD-TSXV] and its 50/50 part- ner Altius Minerals Corp. [ALS-TSX] recently discovered a new, high-grade, massive sulphide, zinc showing under their strate- gic exploration alliance which encompasses over 200,000 km 2 . The new showing, named O'Connor, is located approximately 80 km east of Nemaska, in the Eeyou Istchee area of the James Bay region of northern Québec. Midland and Altius consider the discovery of this zinc min- eralization and associated exhalative horizons strongly indicative of base metal potential in this newly recognized greenstone belt. In a press release, Gino Roger, President and CEO of Midland, stated that mineralization ranges from coarse-grained sphalerite in quartz exhalite that returned 7.53% zinc and 4.5 g/t silver to massive coarse pyrrhotite/pyrite/sphalerite that returned up to 2.79% zinc and 4.4 g/t silver in grab samples. One pyritic massive sulphide also returned 0.09% cobalt and 6.8 g/t silver from grab samples. The mineralization is interpreted as the distal part of a volcanogenic massive sulphide system. The mineralized horizon was traced over 150 metres and remains open along strike both west and east. Geological mapping of the host rocks to the zinc-silver-cobalt mineralization have identified a new regional-scale, bimodal metavolcanic package. Interestingly, this greenstone belt, a favourable geological environment for hosting mineral deposits, does not appear on government geological maps. No electromag- netic survey has been reported in the area in historical records. Reconnaissance prospecting by Midland has identified other interpreted exhalative horizons rich in iron sulphides that are indicative of additional massive sulphide potential. Noting the size potential of the mineralized horizon, follow- ing the discovery, Midland and Altius jointly acquired 538 new claims (the Shire Project) covering more than 60 km of the favourable stratigraphy. Adrian Day, writing in the Global Analyst, said, "Midland Exploration is our top exploration company, one we have often said is following in the footsteps of Virginia Mines. The company has over $13 million in cash (no debt) so is in a very strong posi- tion to advance properties to gain maximum earn-in terms. It has top technical and financial management." Eric Lemieux, a geologist and analyst with Mining & Exploration Analytics, said, "We highlight that Midland has aligned, with its strong partners, solid exploration programs on several district scale projects." Midland and Altius are involved in other Québec projects. The partners have completed a first phase of reconnaissance elsewhere in the James Bay region targeting gold and base metals, with assay results pending. Follow-up field programs are planned. Midland has also partnered up with Osisko Mining Inc. [OSK-TSX] on a 50/50 basis. Several new prospective areas were identified during the first phase of a joint exploration program. The alliance covers a prospective regional area of more than 100 km long located northwest of Goldcorp's Éléonore gold mine and to the southeast of the new gold discovery at Cheechoo. The first regional exploration program carried out in 2016 included till surveys, lake sediment surveys and prospecting. Several prospective areas were delineated, including 11 high-pri- ority areas that will be the focus of a ground follow-up during the next phase. These new exploration targets may be divided into two broad areas, located on either side of the Éléonore mine: the Northwest Area and the Southeast Area. Anomaly thresholds for tills and lake sediments were characterized by Osisko using their regional database for the James Bay region. In yet another alliance, Midland, 49%, reported prelimi- nary drilling results conducted under a joint venture operated by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. [AEM-TSX, NYSE], 51%, on the Maritime-Cadillac property which is contiguous to Agnico's Lapa gold mine in the Cadillac gold camp. Drill hole 141-17-36 intersected a gold-bearing zone grading 1.46 g/t gold over 31.60 metres from 112.80 to 144.40 metres, including 2.2 g/t gold over 15.6 metres on the historic Maritime- Cadillac showing, at a vertical depth of approximately 100 metres. This gold-bearing zone comprises several higher grade intervals including 4.3 g/t gold over 0.9 metre, 3.4 g/t gold over 1.0 metre and 5.7 g/t gold over 0.6 metre. This hole is part of an initial 1,500-metre program with the objective of validating high-grade gold intercepts historically obtained near surface in the Maritime-Cadillac Zone, which returned values of up to 151 g/t gold over 0.8 metres, 140 g/t gold over 0.3 metres and 17.0 g/t gold over 1.1 metres. The exten- sions of the Maritime-Cadillac zone remain open along strike and beyond 250 metres vertical depth. Midland has numerous other mineral prospects in Québec. n Marine Delasarre and Milène Leduc, trainee geologists from consultants IOS, examine the Elrond property in the James Bay region. Photo courtesy Midland Exploration Inc.

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